Mass Senior Care has provided public testimony on the following two proposed regulations:

Mass Senior Care would like to alert long-term care facilities to a change in the Long-term Care Facility Licensure Renewal Application. The Department of Public Health will accept and process a long-term care facility license renewal application only if the application is completed and executed by an “Applicant” as defined in 105 CMR 153.004 (for example, an owner or executive officer of the licensee).

An announcement that due to the decrease in the number of focused infection control surveys, DPH has resumed annual surveys and information on a BinaxNOW expiration date update.

Notice regarding The Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety is offering a free six-week support group for nurses working with COVID-19 patients in any health care setting and a reminder about the weekly DPH call.

AHCA and LeadingAge announced a new nationwide goal of getting 75 percent of the approximately 1.5 million nursing home staff vaccinated by June 30. Click below to read more.

Reminders about the third room density report due on February 26, 2021 and seasonal influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel.

The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Care is now accepting nominations for its 2021 National Compassionate Caregivers of the Year Award. The National Compassionate Caregivers of the Year (NCCY) Award recognizes extraordinary healthcare professionals from across the country who embody the characteristics of compassionate care, and whose professional achievements have helped to create healing healthcare environments for patients, families, colleagues, and communities.

Tara Gregorio, President of Mass Senior Care earlier this month testified before the Massachusetts Health Equity Task Force. The Task Force, established by state law, is charged with making short and long term recommendations to the Legislature that address health disparities for underserved or underrepresented populations.

In response to a statement released yesterday by Mass Senior Care Association (MSCA), The Boston Herald and many other news outlets across the state shared the news that “Encouraging data released today by the Massachusetts Senior Care Association show nursing homes in Massachusetts have made significant strides in mitigating the spread of, and preventing deaths from, the COVID-19 virus. The data also show that prioritizing nursing home residents and staff for the vaccine rollout is working exceedingly well.”